Recovery of video on Xiaomi after removal from the cart: 5 working methods

You deleted a big video from Xiaomi, and then you cleaned the cart? You know, a vacation photo, a big event tape, or just a favorite video, and it all disappeared in one click. Fortunately, even after cleaning the cart, files don't disappear from the device instantly. They stay on the disk until they're overwritten by new data, which means you have a chance to get back what you lost -- but you need to act quickly and correctly.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to recover video on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO models), even if the shopping cart is already empty. From simple built-in tools to professional programs, choose the method depending on the situation. Importantly, the less you use your phone after deleting, the better the chances of success. Every new photo, installed app or system update can irrevocably erase your data.

Let’s start a detailed analysis of each method – from the most affordable to the most effective.

1. Verification of hidden folders and MIUI backups

Before you use third-party software, check to see if there are any copies of the video in hidden system folders or cloud storage. MIUI automatically backs up some files and can be restored without additional tools.

Where to look:

• 📁.thumbnails folder – it stores video thumbnails (not the files themselves, but sometimes helps identify what is lost). →.thumbnails (enable the display of hidden files in the file manager).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud - if sync was enabled, the videos could have been saved to the cloud. → The shopping cart in the web version of i.mi.com.
• 🔄 folder MIUI/Backup — This is where you store backups of the system, and sometimes the videos get archived when you update them. MIUI.

How to enable the display of hidden files:

1. Open a file manager (Files by Google or MI File Manager).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Activate the option to show hidden files.

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If the video has been deleted recently (less than 30 days), check the MIUI/Gallery/RecycleBin folder – sometimes files remain there even after you “clean the cart” through the gallery interface.

⚠️ Warning: Do not save new files to your phone until recovery is complete. Each record to the disc reduces the chances of success.

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Xiaomi had Google Photos enabled, the videos could have been saved to the cloud, which works even if you manually cleaned the shopping cart on your phone.

How to check:

1. Open the Google Photos app or go to photos.google.com.
2. In the side menu, select the Cart (in the web version - Archive → Cart).
3. Videos are stored in the cart for 60 days – if less time has passed, they can be restored with a single click.

If the video isn't in the cart:

• 🔍 Use a search by date or keyword (e.g., “video from January 1st").
• 📅 Check the Archives section – sometimes files get there automatically.
• 🤖 If the video was deleted from the phone but left in Google Photos, it can be downloaded back: click on the file → Save it to the device.

Yes, Google Photos.|Yes, Mi Cloud.|Yes, other (Yandex, Dropbox, etc.)|No, I don't.|I don't know what it is.-->

Important: Google Photos compresses video when you upload if you don't have the original storage enabled. Recovered files may have less resolution.

3. Data recovery programs (without root)

If the video is not found in the cloud or hidden folders, it is time to use specialized programs. Xiaomi will be suitable for utilities that work without root rights (albeit with a higher root odds).

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger (recommended for beginners):

1. Download and install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and select Start a simple scan (without root).
3. Tick the video and click Next.
4. After scanning, select the files you want and click Restore. Save them to another medium (e.g., Restore them, SD-card).

Charge your phone at least 50% | Connect to charging during scanning |Free 1-2 GB of memory for temporary files |Do not run other applications during the process-->

⚠️ Note: Do not save recovered videos back to Xiaomi's internal memory - this can overwrite the remaining deleted files.

4. PC recovery (deep scan)

If the software on your phone doesn't work, plug Xiaomi into your computer and use desktop utilities to scan memory at a low level and find files that are not available to mobile apps.

The best PC programs:

• 💻 Recuva (free, simple, supportive) exFAT/NTFS).
• 💻 R-Studio (paid, but with a demo version for preview).
• 💻 TestDisk (for experienced users, works via command line).

Instructions for Recuva:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Install and run Recuva.
3. Select the type of video files and specify your phone’s drive.
4. Start a deep scan (May take 1-2 hours).
5. After completion, mark the desired files and click Restore, saving them to the hard drive of the PC.

Critical: If the video was recorded on SD-Take it out of your phone and connect it to your PC through a card reader, and scanning the card directly increases your chances of recovery. 30-40%.

5. Restoration through root access (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, the last option is rooting and scanning memory at a low level, which is risky (may lead to loss of warranty or buildup of the phone), but gives the maximum chance of success.

What you need:

• 📱 Unlocked bootloader on Xiaomi (instructions on the official website).
• 🔧 Installed Magisk or SuperSU software for root.
• 💾 Undeleter Recover Files & Data (works with root).

Step-by-step process:

1. Unlock bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery and run Magisk to get root.
3. Download Undeleter and give it root access.
4. Select a Deep Scan and wait for results (may take hours).
5. Save the recovered files to your PC or external drive.

⚠️ Note: Getting root rights voids Xiaomi's warranty and may disrupt banking applications (due to SafetyNet.

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Root access gives access to system partitions where fragments of deleted videos can be stored, but the risk of damaging the phone is higher than with other methods.

6.Prevention: How to Avoid Losing Video in the Future

To avoid the problem again, follow the simple rules:

• ☁️ Automatic Sync: Enable backup in Google Photos or Mi Cloud. path: Settings → Accounts. → Google/Mi → Synchronization.
• 📁 Manual Copying: Regularly transfer important videos to a PC or external drive (e.g., once a month).
• 🔄 Local backups: Use applications like Swift Backup to take system snapshots.
• 🚫 Careful cleaning: Before cleaning the basket, check its contents. MIUI Gallery Recycle Bin Stores Files for 30 Days, But After Manual Cleaning, Recovery Is Hard.

Additional advice:

• Use two. SIM-map + MicroSD on Xiaomi to share data storage.
• Set up Auto Delete Old Files in Google Photos to avoid memory overflow.
• Before resetting the phone to factory settings, remove SD-card - it is not cleared when reset.

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In Xiaomi Camera Settings (Camera Settings) → Save it, you can select a folder for the recordings. SD-This will make it easier to recover in the future.

FAQ: Frequent questions about video recovery on Xiaomi